Our Vision: Equal, just and sensible distribution of resources based
on an unbiased approach towards religion, sex, caste and need of the
environment so that a prosperous society develops on the principle of
justice and prosperity.
SUNGI development Foundation is committed to achieving excellence by continuous
improvement of its programmes, services and processes. Offering a support
to education by involving the communities which is perhaps the most important
factor in creating a successful future for generations that will have to
cope with a rapidly changing environment Sungi focuses on a comprehensive
education Programme in non-formal primary, adult education, gaps in education
and advocacy campaign. Opportunities are explored with the government run
schools to strengthen their capacity, outreach and increase their enrolment
rate. Community centers are set up to deal with health issues, skills and
enterprise development. Sungi is assisting The Citizen Foundation in the
construction of schools in the Earthquake affected areas.
Walk on Education in Battagram
Education is an oxygen for the survival of human being. This reality has
been approved by the intellectuals of the world. Regarding this statement
and according the vision of sungi development foundation. Sungi Battagram
zone arranged a walk on importance of education in this earth quake hit
area Battagram.
The slogan of this walk was “Education is a basic right of children
“Almost 150 people were participated in this walk. There were so
many school going children, young people, social workers and prestigious
personalities of Battagram participated in this walk.
Earlier there were several hurdles to arrange this walk. Local political
leaders interrupted to flop this walk. They used their influence on leading
staff of local government high school, to restrict the students to participate
in this walk. In-spite of all difficulties no unturned stone to arrange
this walk. Regarding this walk, invitations were given to the all activists
of surroundings villages of the Battagram.
Participants were holding different education demanding placards in their
hands. Walk started from DHQ Hospital to sungi Battagram office .At the
end student’s participants addressed to the huge gathering. Having
described the education problems, students spokesman said, there are no
buildings for the schools, in tent schools we have to face many problems
due to hot weather. There is no proper sitting arrangement for the students.
Old buildings have destroyed bitterly. Those school buildings, which are
saved for earthquake, unfortunately the attendance of teachers is equal
to none.
Speakers were demanding for new school buildings and established monitoring
system for teachers.
At the end of walk the resolution passed by the participants to make efforts
for the betterment of education system of Battagram.
Seminar on The Importance of Girls
Education
After Earthquake on October 08, 2005, the educational system in Battagram
and other affected districts got severely affected. Being a right-based
NGO, Sungi Development Foundation planned to re-track the educational
system by facilitating education department. In this regards, a seminar
on importance of girls education was conducted on June 20, 2006 in which
education department, local govt. representatives, teachers, women councilors
and social activists participated and highlighted the importance to girls
education and its current alarming situation.
Mr. Mukhtar Javed (Manger HDR) briefed the participants about Sungi, its
mission, vision, background and different programs for development and
sustainability. He highlighted the success of Sungi Development Foundation
in bringing a historical change in political system of Battagram by mobilizing
women to participate in election and its subsequent outcome in the shape
of 38 women councilors. He highlighted the importance of women in political
and decision making process and Sungi Development Foundation future plan
to ensure the rights of elected women in local government system of the
district. He briefed the participants about women rights in the light
of Islam and also the importance of education in Islam.
Importance of Women Education
Madam Zeenat Siraj (Manager Education Program) briefed the participants
about the significance of education for the development of a society especially
women education. She highlighted that how an educated woman can mould
the future of kids. She also highlighted the role and contribution of
educated women in governing the house and in assisting their males. She
said that teachers play a backbone role in the developmental process and
sensitized the teachers upon their importance and duty for a better education.
Situation of Education in Battagram
Mr. Hameed khan Tehsil Naib Nazim participated in this seminar as a representative
of tehsil government. He appreciated Sungis’ efforts in humanitarian
response and also its contribution for improving the education quality
through Tawana Pakistan Project. He stressed that quality education is
the right of every child and both girls and boys have equal rights to
be provided with quality education. Women constitute 52% of population
but their literacy rate is only 8% in Battagram. It is an alarming situation
and we should focus on female education as well because today’s
girl is future mother and an educated mother can better mould the future
of her children. He stressed that all should move towards the solution
of this problem through coordinated efforts and female councilors should
take lead role in ensuring the quality education in girl’s schools.
Importance of Education in Islam
Mr. Maqbool participated in this seminar as representative from Khwendo
Kor. He highlighted the importance of education in the light of Islamic
teachings and quoted various examples from different decades of Islam.
He also highlighted the constitutional steps taken by UN in its charter
and constitution of Pakistan. He stressed that women councilors should
discuss women education as their agenda in district assembly and should
work for it on priority basis. He discussed the role of Khwendo Kor in
highlighting teacher’s issues and also celebrate teachers global
week.
Female Education Status in Current Scenario
Madam Naseem Bhatti (Deputy DEO Female education) discussed the education
status in girl’s primary schools in post earthquake scenario. She
said that their department has started schooling in tents and still there
are many schools where there are no tents for schools and the teachers
are performing their duties in open spaces. She highlighted teacher’s
issues and basic needs they deserve for at every school. She admired the
role of Sungi Development Foundation in girl’s education through
Tawana Pakistan Project and its fruitful results in increasing enrollment
in girl’s primary schools. By this project interest raise among
masses regarding girls education and now teachers should play their role
in keeping their interest alive by providing quality education. She explained
that in past there were majority of non-local teachers but now there are
only 50 non-local and 400 local female teachers.
Sungi Future Plan in Education Sector
Madam Zeenat Siraj explained Sungi’s future direction in education
sector. She briefed that in future Sungi Development Foundation will enhance
the capacity of teachers to ensure the quality education. For this purpose,
they will arrange training workshops for teachers at union council level
through close coordination with education department.
Inauguration of the Community Centre
for Women and Children in Charakpura Muzzafarabad on May 23, 2006 Sungi
again supports the vulnerable group
A community center with a comprehensive set of programs will most benefit
the inhabitants of the rural areas. For instance, a mother’s awareness
of hygiene and health issues, nutrition and responsible child rearing will
lead to a healthier family and therefore circumvent the need to make frequent
and costly visits to a doctor. A healthy and happy child will be more motivated
and equipped to handle the challenges of school and studies than a sickly
child. But, a motivated child needs to be stimulated and challenged in school
or else she’ll lose her motivation. This leads to the issue of teacher
training, good teaching resource materials, and an inspiring learning environment,
all of which can be addressed through workshops for private and public school
teachers and principals at the community center. In addition, there is the
unfortunate reality of government ghost schools which means that quite a
few families choose to send their children to private schools. However,
this choice comes at a cost which, in turn, leads to the issue of income
generation.
Are families able to generate enough income to give their children the education
and life opportunities that they would like to? Do fathers and mothers,
in their separate capacities; possess the skills that would enable them
to lead more economically fulfilling lives? If so, they would have in the
palm of their hands the ingredients for a happier and more content family
life. If not, the constant stress of an uncertain future will wear them
down to the point where they will have no choice but to clutch at desperate
measures such as pulling their children out of school and sending them to
work prematurely, thereby adding to a child labor problem that is already
widespread.
The needs of these rural communities existed well before the earthquake
but, in the aftermath of the earthquake and the devastation that it has
wrought, they have become absolutely urgent. The community center will address
the global needs of these rural communities, from teaching income generation
skills to raising awareness on disparate topics (health, environment conservation,
rights of women and children, for example) and, above all, will inculcate
the concept of community itself as an enabling and empowering tool for change.
Hidden talents would be addressed for example children of these areas play
the flute, so such talents should not go waste, enhancing such skills preserves
the culture of the area. Similar activities would be encouraged to revive
the traditional values.
